Antivirus companies Symantec and McAfee have agreed to pay fines of US$375,000 to settle charges that they automatically charged customers software subscription renewal fees without their permission.

According to the Investigators of the Office of Andrew Cuomo, the two leading antivirus makers had failed to adequately disclose to consumers that subscriptions would automatically be renewed and that consumers would be charged. Companies cannot play hide the ball when it comes to fees consumers are being charged.

Symantec said in a statement Wednesday that it has worked to improve the auto-renewal subscription process saying that it has now modified its online shopping cart to include better disclosures and make it more transparent and visible.

The two antivirus firms will now reimburse auto-renewal fees within 60 days of the charge.

Software